TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON 2026 Kicks Off
The TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Morocco 2026 is set to begin in Rabat on Sunday, 26 July 2026. The tournament, which was initially postponed, will now feature an expanded format with 16 national teams. This edition is significant as it also serves as a qualifier for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, with all four semi-finalists earning a spot in Brazil.
The opening match will see Algeria face Senegal at 17:00 GMT at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat. Later that day, host nation Morocco will play Kenya at 20:00 GMT at the Moulay Hassan Stadium. The tournament will conclude with the final on Sunday, 16 August.
The prize money for the winners of this year’s competition has been doubled, with the champions receiving USD 2 million. The overall prize pot has also increased from USD 3.475 million to USD 5.8 million, and all 16 participating teams will receive USD 150,000.
Extensive Global Broadcast Reach
A wide array of global broadcasters will cover the TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON Morocco 2026. Long-term CAF partners beIN Sport and the United Kingdom’s Channel 4 are among the prominent names. DAZN will broadcast the tournament in Germany and surrounding territories for the first time, while CANAL+ will cover French-speaking territories in several Sub-Saharan African countries.
African broadcasters include SNRT for Morocco, SABC in South Africa, and AZAM Media for parts of East Africa, including Tanzania. BBC Radio will also provide coverage for a number of Sub-Saharan territories. For the first time, the tournament will be live in the United Kingdom through CAF’s partnership with Channel 4.
Over 18 Free-to-Air (FTA) broadcasters are also involved, ensuring broad access to the matches. These include KBC in Kenya, AfroSport in Nigeria, MaxTV in Ghana, RTi in Cote d’Ivoire, RTCV in Cape Verde, ZNBC in Zambia, and RTB in Burkina Faso.
Tournament Format and Venues
The 16 teams have been divided into four groups of four. Morocco, as hosts, are in Group A alongside Algeria, Senegal, and Kenya. Group B features South Africa, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, and Tanzania. Group C includes holders Nigeria, Zambia, Egypt, and debutants Malawi. Group D consists of Ghana, Cameroon, Mali, and Cape Verde, another first-time participant.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals. The quarter-finals are scheduled for 8 and 9 August, followed by both semi-finals on 12 August. The final will take place on Sunday, 16 August, at 19:00 GMT.
Matches will be played across five stadiums in two cities: Rabat and Casablanca. The venues in Rabat include the Moulay Hassan Stadium, the Olympic Stadium, and the Al Medina Stadium. In Casablanca, the Larbi Zaouli Stadium and the Moulay Rachid Stadium will host games. The Moulay Hassan Stadium will also stage a quarter-final and a semi-final, and is a potential venue for the final.

Nigeria, the current holders, are considered strong contenders, aiming for their 11th title. They are led by coach Justin Madugu, with goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie and captain Rasheedat Ajibade being key players. Morocco, having been runners-up in the previous two editions, will be looking to make an impact on home soil under coach Jorge Vilda.
Other strong teams include South Africa, with coach Desiree Ellis, and Ghana, led by Kim Bjorkegren. Zambia, featuring captain Barbra Banda, will also be looking to advance deep into the tournament. The TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON Morocco 2026 begins on Sunday, 26 July 2026.

Source: cafonline.com
